Director of Sales Engineering

Dandelion Energy; Arlington (VA); On-site; USD 120,000 - 160,000; Full time

Job summary

A leading geothermal solutions firm is seeking a Sales Engineering Manager to lead a high-performing team for residential geothermal systems. This role involves strategic support for enterprise sales and cross-functional collaboration. The ideal candidate has extensive experience in technical sales and HVAC, along with strong team management skills. The position requires a Bachelor's degree in engineering and a deep understanding of geothermal systems. The expected salary ranges from $120,000 to $160,000 annually, plus bonuses and equity.

Benefits

Medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance

401(k) plan

Generous paid sick leave and vacation

Learning & development support

Qualifications

• 7+ years of experience in technical sales or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience managing technical teams.
• Deep understanding of geothermal systems and system design principles.

Responsibilities

• Lead and develop the Sales Engineering team.
• Collaborate with Sales Leadership on enterprise strategy.
• Support Sales Engineers in client meetings as a technical expert.

Skills

Technical sales

HVAC systems

Renewable energy

Cross-functional collaboration

Education

Bachelor’s degree in engineering or environmental science

Tools

CAD tools

Energy modeling software

CRM/Salesforce

Job description

Dandelion Energy is transforming how homes are heated and cooled—starting from the ground up. As the nation’s leading residential geothermal company, we design, install, and maintain all-in-one heating and cooling systems that are cleaner, quieter, and up to 4x more efficient than traditional HVAC, with a focus on large, scaled deployments to large homebuilders. We’re an ambitious team on a mission to revolutionize home heating.

Backed by Google Ventures and other top tech investors, our end-to-end geothermal solution is breaking the status quo of residential heating and cooling technology, and we’re scaling rapidly to meet demand. Whether we’re serving national homebuilders or individual homeowners, our mission is the same: to make geothermal the default choice for heating and cooling in the U.S.

We are seeking a strategic and experienced people manager to lead and grow a high-performing team of Sales Engineers for residential production new construction geothermal systems. This leader will oversee technical pre-sales support for enterprise opportunities, guide system design excellence, and ensure alignment with sales, engineering, and project execution teams. The ideal candidate brings a strong technical background in HVAC or renewable energy systems, along with a passion for team development and cross-functional collaboration.

Lead and Develop the Sales Engineering Team

• Recruit, mentor, and manage a team of Sales Engineers across multiple markets.
• Set clear goals and performance metrics, and provide coaching and professional development.
• Establish and enforce best practices for proposal development, system design, and customer engagement.

Strategic Support for Enterprise Sales

• Collaborate with Sales Leadership to align technical support with go-to-market strategy and enterprise revenue targets.
• Oversee the creation of geothermal system designs, technical proposals, and integration plans that balance performance, cost-efficiency, and regulatory requirements.
• Review and approve high-priority or complex proposals to ensure technical accuracy and competitive positioning.

Cross-Functional Collaboration

• Act as a liaison between Sales Engineering, Product, Engineering, and Project Management to drive continuous improvement and smooth handoffs.
• Work closely with rebate and regulatory teams to ensure proposals comply with local and national incentives.
• Partner with Marketing and Sales Enablement to develop technical sales materials, training, and tools.

Customer Engagement & Technical Leadership

• Support Sales Engineers in key client meetings and presentations as a senior technical expert.
• Serve as an escalation point for technical challenges and customer concerns.
• Help drive pre-sales and post-sales technical support strategy for home builders, developers, and large enterprise partners.

Market Intelligence & Process Optimization

• Stay ahead of industry trends, emerging technologies, and competitors to inform product strategy and team training.
• Identify opportunities to improve internal processes, tools, and workflows to scale technical sales support.

Basic Qualifications:

• 7+ years of experience in technical sales, HVAC, renewable energy, or a related field.
• 2+ years of experience managing or leading technical teams, ideally within a high-growth environment.
• Bachelor’s degree in engineering, environmental science, or equivalent technical field.
• Deep understanding of geothermal systems, construction technologies, and system design principles, or related technologies.
• Proven ability to lead cross-functional initiatives and manage competing priorities.
• Strong interpersonal skills with the ability to communicate complex technical concepts to both technical and non-technical stakeholders.

Preferred Qualifications:

• Experience in residential and/or multifamily HVAC projects.
• Familiarity with tax incentives, utility rebates, and compliance requirements in the clean energy sector.
• Ability to operate effectively in a fast-paced, mission-driven environment.
• Experience with CAD tools, energy modeling software, and CRM/Salesforce.
• Willingness to work in-office (4 days/week) at our Arlington, VA headquarters.
• Ability to occasionally travel.

The expected annual base salary for this exempt role is $120,000-$160,000, plus a significant variable bonus and equity as part of the overall package.

Benefits & Perks:

• Medical, dental, vision, and pet insurance
• 401(k) plan
• Generous paid sick leave, vacation, and parental leave
• Learning & development support, including on-the-job training and virtual courses

Dandelion Energy is an equal opportunity employer and welcomes applications from diverse candidates. We are committed to creating an inclusive work environment and do not discriminate on the basis of any protected group status under any applicable law.